Malibu, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/05/2015 -- Opioid addiction is the dependence on prescription drugs and heroin which can be treated with rehabilitation and medication. For some time, rehabilitation under treatment programs combined with medication from both public and private recovery centers are the primary method of driving out the medical condition out of the system that had made a great impact on the chemistry of the brain. That to make the recovery more meaningful, drug dependents was advised to stay for 30 days or so and strictly follow the 12-step programs designed for every patient. However, concerns about its efficiency were raised these days as the number of Americans getting addicted to opioid escalates dramatically while more youngsters were being reported to be acquainted with substance addiction.

As of today, the number of Americans over the age of 12 that was reported to be addicted to the substance has reached 23 million. Only 11% of those will seek addiction treatment while 40% to 60% have relapsed and went back to their addiction. With the whopping numbers that were revealed recently about the dependency of some Americans, it does not mean that the treatments and medication provided alongside are not that effective. It's just that every patient undergoes different circumstances, the same goes for treatment programs. With that scenario, recovery centers focus more on identifying what works and what does not when it comes to addiction treatment Malibu clients and from nearby states deserves.

Although there's a growing threat for opioid addiction, its treatment is still unreachable to many. As a matter of fact, one out five people with the opoid dependence was able to receive it. This trend happens because of the following factors such as (1) unexpanded size of the treatment programs with medication-assistant treatment and the drug treatment programs outside, and (2) the limited number of physicians that provides medication-assisted treatments which is expected to grow in the future. Yet, this should not be an excuse for many opioid dependents not to seek rehabilitation when there's an available option for treating the addiction that includes medication-assisted treatments using any of the three approved medication for opioid addiction – methadone and buprenorphine as opioid agonists and naltrexone as opioid antagonist. But among the three, the two opioid is widely used.

Methadone is an opioid agonist that is responsible for 'replacing' the opioid abused. This reduces the cravings, the withdrawal symptoms and the use of illicit opioid without making the patient elated. But the use of methadone in treatments is highly regulated by the federal and state levels and is only available in specialized centers. Another medication used is the buprenorphine which is a partial opioid agonist. It is less regulated than methadone, occurs in any rehabilitation setting, and can be prescribed by the doctor who has completed an 8-hour training to receive a waiver. People who use buprenorphine as their medication usually has monthly visit with their physician. And unlike methadone, this partial opioid agonist can lead to improvements.

Consequently, in choosing the right medication to fight opioid dependence, consulting it with specialists at recovery centers like Acadia Malibu (that provides a complete addiction care, a community for recovery, and long-term but affordable and effective addiction treatments) greatly helps in tailoring the every individual needs and medication-assisted treatments that could lead to a substantial improvement in health and the quality of life.

About Acadia Malibu
The mission of Acadia Malibu is to provide unique, high quality drug and alcohol treatment services at every step along the continuum of care. They have decades of combined experience working with clients, from the initial 'Crisis Intervention,' all the way through to aftercare and alumni services. Acadia is licensed in Malibu to provide care for those suffering from dual-diagnoses and our staff is very experienced in treating co-occurring disorders. Acadia Malibu stands by their commitment to provide a special and innovative treatment experience, and to tailor an individualized care plan for each of their clients.

Acadia Malibu has created a community-based, long-term Acadia rehab treatment model. Their flexible model allows them to create ways of making treatment affordable to most families. They shepherd clients through the treatment process by helping them to integrate themselves into the fabric of our community, and even more importantly, by focusing on what their lives are going to look like post-treatment. Most treatment professionals have admitted that the old 30-day model is not working. Affordable, long-term, community-based care that really works is the future of drug and alcohol treatment … And this is what they are committed to providing each of their clients and its families.